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[Metallica]

Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.

What is Privacy Center?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Privacy Center is a fake anti-malware application. These so-called "rogues" use intentional false positives to convince users that their systems have been compromised. Then they try to sell you their software, claiming it will remove these threats. In extreme cases the false threats are actually the very trojans that advertise or even directly install the rogue. You are strongly advised to follow our removal instructions below.

How do I know if I am infected with Privacy Center?

This is how the main screen of the rogue application looks:



And see these warnings:





How did Privacy Center get on my computer?

Rogue programs use different methods for spreading themselves. This particular one poses as a fake flash player.

Our program Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware can detect and remove this rogue application.

• Please download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware to your desktop.
• Double-click mbam-setup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
• At the end, be sure a check-mark is placed next to the following:
  
  
  • Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
  • Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
• Then click Finish.
• If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.
• Once the program has loaded, select Perform quick scan, then click Scan.
• When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results.
• Be sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected. Reboot your computer if prompted.
• When completed, a log will open in Notepad. The rogue application should now be gone.

Is there anything else I need to do to get rid of Privacy Center?

• No, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware removes Privacy Center completely.

How would the full version of Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware help protect me?

We hope our application has helped you eradicate this malicious software. If your current security solution let this infection through, you might please consider purchasing the FULL version of Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware for additional protection.

As you can see below the full version of Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware would have protected you against the Privacy Center rogue. It would have warned you before the rogue could install itself, giving you a chance to stop it before it became too late.

Technical details for experts

Signs in a HijackThis log:

C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\CCenter\ap.exe

O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ap.exe] C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\CCenter\ap.exe

Alterations made by the installer:

  File System
  ===============
    Adds the folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\CCenter
      Adds the file sp.exe"="12:31 21/08/10 1804800 bytes
      Adds the file settings.ini"="12:32 21/08/10 119 bytes
      Adds the file ap.exe"="12:31 21/08/10 556032 bytes

  Registry
  ===============
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
      "ap.exe"="'C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\CCenter\ap.exe'"
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
      "Shell"="'C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\CCenter\sp.exe'"

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware log:

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.46
www.malwarebytes.org

Database version: 4513

Windows 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3
Internet Explorer 6.0.2900.5512

8/31/2010 1:52:35 PM
mbam-log-2010-08-31 (13-52-35).txt

Scan type: Quick scan
Objects scanned: 119519
Time elapsed: 3 minute(s), 28 second(s)

Memory Processes Infected: 2
Memory Modules Infected: 0
Registry Keys Infected: 0
Registry Values Infected: 2
Folders Infected: 1
Files Infected: 4

Memory Processes Infected:
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\CCenter\ap.exe (Rogue.ControlCenter) -> Unloaded process successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\CCenter\sp.exe (Rogue.ControlCenter) -> Unloaded process successfully.

Memory Modules Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Values Infected:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\ap.exe (Rogue.ControlCenter) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\shell (Rogue.ControlCenter) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Folders Infected:
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\CCenter (Rogue.ControlCenter) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Files Infected:
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Desktop\install-172.exe (Rogue.PCenter) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\CCenter\ap.exe (Rogue.ControlCenter) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\CCenter\settings.ini (Rogue.ControlCenter) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\CCenter\sp.exe (Rogue.ControlCenter) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

As mentioned before the full version of Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware could have protected your computer against this threat.
We use different ways of protecting your computer(s):

• Dynamically Blocks Malware Sites & Servers
• Malware Execution Prevention

Save yourself the hassle and get protected.